Punching attachment for packing machines



Aug. 31, 1954 B. HAUSER PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR PACKING MACHINES FiledApril 13. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet '1' INVENTOR. Bertrand Huuser .mwu,

Aug. 31, 1954 HAUSER 2,687,764

PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR PACKING MACHINES Filed April 13, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

so as 34,

INVENTOR. Bertrand Ha user BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1954 PUNCHIN GATTAGHlVIENT FOR PACKING MACHINES Bertram Hauser, Cedarhurst, N. Y.,assignor to Servit Foods Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application April 13, 1951, Serial No. 220,908

13 Claims. p 1

This invention is an improved attachment for packing. apparatus;particularly apparatus for enclosing predetermined quantities of groundcoffee, tea or other materials in porous bags or pouches ready forimmersion in hot water, so

as to produce a quickly prepared beverage. An important object is toprovide an attachment in the form of a punching device for such amachine that is capable of operating upon the material utilized for thebags or pouches, to secure thereto more effectively an outside loop orband that will enable the bag or pouch to be more easily andconveniently handled when the beverage is desired.

Pouches or bags for the purpose mentioned are fully described in thepatent specification of Weisman, No. 2,377,118, dated May 29, 1945; anda machine for making such pouches or bags and simultaneously fillingthem with the desired contents is disclosed in the patent of Weisman,No. 2,381,091 of August 7, 1945. In that machine two strips of paper,each having the width of two such bags, are drawn into superposedpositions and small masses of tea or the like are depositedbetween thetwo strips in rows along the two longitudinal halves of the strips. Thesuccessive charges of tea are placed at the required distance apart fromone another; and the strips are then closed along portions extendinglongitudinally through the middle of the posited between the widerstrips. But the adhesive carried by said wider strips, though completelysealing the bags or pouches along the edges, is ordinarily notsufficient to form a satisfactory union of the outside bands or loopswith the bags, and the chief aim of my invention is strips, and alongtransverse portions between the successive masses or heaps. The stripsare out along the middle and the transverse portions, to sever the bagsor pouches into single detached units.

With the two strips aforesaid two narrow strips are pulled into themachine in position to extend along one of the aforesaid strips, eachnarrow strip being in contact therewith along the middle of onelongitudinal half thereof. The narrow strips are affixed to the widerstrips at said transverse portions, and cut inthe same operation thatsevers the bags or pouches from one another; Each bagor pouch then hasan outside loop so that it can be lifted with a spoon into andout of acup of hot water. i

The paper for the bags is thin andporous, but bears enough adhesive,preferably a thermoplastic that is not affected by boiling water, tocause the paper to adhere along the longitudinal andtransverse portionsby the action of pressure and heat. The machine of patentspecifi: cationNo. 2,381,091 contains parts by which such portions are subjected toheat and pressure as the charges of tea or the like are deto make thejunction between the ends of the bands and the edges of the bags perfectand durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for apacking machine that will puncture the one strip with which the narrowbands are in contact, at the places where the two wide strips are to beunited along the transverse adhering portions, so that apertures areformed; and through the apertures the narrow strips make direct contactwith the other strip. The wide strips are effectively joined as before,but at the punctures the adhesive onthe one wide strip is enabled tohold the band permanently. At the same time, the seal along the edge ofthe one wide, strip bearing the puncture and 'the other wide strip is inno wise impaired.

Another object is to provide a punching device for packing apparatushaving means for affixing the narrow strips for the loops to one stripat the puncture points, to prevent displacement of the narrow stripsduring the filling, sealing and cutting operations.

An additional object is to provide such an attachment or accessory for apacking machine which is relatively simple in design and fullycoordinated in its action with the operation of the other parts of themachine which load the tea or the like, seal the separate masses and cutthe bags loose from one another.

The nature of the invention and the advantages thereof are clearly setforth in the ensuing specification and illustrated in the, drawings. Butthe embodiment shown is not necessarily the only construction that canbe used in achieving the objects of the invention, for various changesmay be made in details without altering the essential design thereof;and the characteristics are defined in the appended claims.

On said drawings: v t

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing in part the general operation ofpackaging tea and coffee and operating the punching device.

Figure 2 shows the kind of bag or pouch em- Figure 3 is a side view ofthe punching attachment or accessory.

Figure 4 is an end view thereof; and

Figure is a sectional view of a detail indicating the one strippunctured and the narrow bands for the loops in place against one facethereof; seen from the lower side; and

Figure 6 is a section of what is shown in Figure 5 at the puncturepoints.

In Figure 1, on which the general arrangement is shown, the parts arenot necessarily shown in proportionate sizes, and numeral I indicates abin or hopper from which the tea or the like is delivered through aspout 2'. The relatively wide strips of thin porous paper between whichthe measured amounts are deposited are shown at 3 and 4, V the dischargefrom the hopper being controlled as the aforesaid specification2,381,091 describes. The strips run down on both sides of the spout 2over idle guide rollers 5, and are engaged and moved by feed rollers 6,adjacent the lower end of the spout or chute 2. These rollers arerotated step by step to draw the strips 3 and 4' past the chute and atbrief intervals are motionless while the heat and pressure is applied tocause the paper to adhere round the successive charges of tea and sealthem in place, and the cutters are operated to sever the bags from oneanother. After the charges are dropped into place the sealing isperformed, and the cutting is done through the adhering or sealedportions of the strips around the charges already sealed and immediatelyin front of those which are being sealed between the strips. The step bystep motion is imparted by a gear on a shaft connected to the rollers 5,and the gear is turned intermittently by a one-way action pawl on a rodthat reciprocates in proper time with the sealing and cutting members;these members being fully illustrated in the drawings of patentspecification 2,381,091, aforesaid.

The attachment is mounted on supports 9 affixed to the framework ofthepacking machine, not shown, and mounted in transverse position on themembers 9 is a pair of flanged rollers or reels [0 bearing the narrowstrips 1 to form the bands or loops on the bags or pouches. One of theseis depicted in Figure 2, having two layers 3' and 4 of porous paper,sealed around the four edges, with the band or loop I joined to two ofthe opposite edges; one of the layers 4' having apertures 8' at itsopposite edges under the ends a of the loop I. The bands 1 pass overguide rollers H in transverse positions between the supports 9 and runbeneath one or the wide strips 4', which is taken from a feed roll atone end of the machine; the other strip 3 coming from the opposite end.Mounted between its ends on the members 9 is a transverse bar l2, thathas apertures l3, one directly above each narrow strip 7; and above thisbar is a bent arm l4 having at its'outer end a transverse blade IS withteeth [6 in position to register with the apertures l2. The strip 4 runsover the bar 12, with its center line at the center of the bar, asillus-. trated in Figure 4., which shows the bar and strips from below,and every time the bar is depressed, two apertures 8 are punchedtherein. These apertures are covered by the strips 1 as soon as thenarrow strips 1 and the wide strip 4 come into contact with each other.

The arm I4 is a rigid bent piece of metal affixed'to the outer end of arocker ll mounted loosely on a shaft l8 in bearings on the two members9. To the member is secured one end of a tension spring I9, the otherend being connected to one-of a pair cf uprights 20 on the 4 supports 9.In bearings 2| at the top of the extensions 29 is a transverse shaft 22that carries a cam 23 fixed thereon. This cam engages a roller 24 on ashaft mounted in lugs 25 on the rocker member ll at its free or frontend, and forces the rocker to descend whenever a punching stroke isrequired. On one end of the shaft 22 is a gear 26 which is coupled by asprocket chain 21 with the shaft of one of the feed rollers 6, or someother part moving in the same way as the rollers 6. rollers areintermittently rotated, the gear 26 is also turned step by step to makethe cam 23 depress the rocker IT and punch the holes 8 in the strip 4.These holes are of course as far apart as the distance between theopposite edges of the bags or pouches for which the bands or loops areintended. The cam 23 has such form that it causes the rocker; IT to makea punching stroke when the rollers G are not in motion, and releases therocker to be'retra'cted by the spring M as soon as the rollers 6' againstart revolving;

Beneath the rocker H at the frontend is a block '28 carrying aheatingcylin'der 29', and directly under this block, between the members9 is a fixed anvil 30, containing-rubber or some other yieldingsubstance. As the rocker IT is pushed down to punch a pair of' holesinthe strip 4, the block 28 also moves down towards the anvil 30. Thestrip 4 with the two parallel narrow strips 1 below it passes over theanvil 30, which is as far from the bar l2'as the dis: tance between twosuccessive holes inthe paper strip 4, and the heatenwhich is flat onit'slower face, presses the strip 4 and the strips 1' against the anvil, andcauses the strips 1' to-adhe'r'e to the strip 4" tightly enough tokeepthe strips l in fixed position with respect tothe strip 4fa-ll through.the remaining operations of making bags or pouches out of the strips 3"and]. The cylinder 29 contains an electricalheating uiiit, supplied withcurrentconductors 3|.

At the front edge of the bar I2 is a guide 32 under which the strippassestobe closeto and in central position over the bar l2; and ju'st'-iri front of the anvil 30 are g'u'id'e lo'ops 33-which are beneath thestrips 1; to keep the strips 1' in proper alinement with the strip 4; IWhen the strip 4 and the band strips I reach the anvil 30; the pressureand heat exertedby the cylinder 29, force the edges of the holes 8against the strips 7, as indicated in Figure 5, and'causes-adhe'siri totake place at once between the strips: T and 4'; The thermoplasticadhesive substance is prf= erably incorporated with the fibers and the"paper, and is not presentin siifiicieht amount to diminish theporosityof the paper. But the adhesive will bind the strips 1 tothestrip 4am hold the former in place till th'e' finaluni en-tr the strips3 and'A; and of the strips 1 to the latter is performed just before thesevered bagsare delivered from the machine to'be put into con tainersfor selling. When the stripsfl' and 4 are subjected to heat andpr'essure after'receiv= ing tea fromthe hop er l, to seal eachcharge oftea, the portions heated and pressed stiek all r'oundthe tea, andwhenthe cuttin'gis done; the two sections 3 and! of each bag sticktogether firmly all around the edges. But parts of the surface along thetwo edges of the piece 3 'di'--' rectly under the holes 8 are exposedahd 'm'ake direct contact the" ends of the bands '1; Hence, the adhesiveiii-the sections inl-ine' with the holes 8 in the section 4, takeseffeet directly only on the loops Ito bind them-firmly, andtthe Hence,as the feed adhesive in the paper elsewhere than in line with the-holes8, brings aboutcomplete adhesion along all the edges to close the bagsat all points. Of

course a plastic or adhesive can be attachedto one or both strips 3 and4 only along the portions forming the edges of the bags, or otherwise,as maybe desired.

The mode of operation of the punching device in coordination with thepacking machine which operates as set forth in the aforesaid patentspecification 2,381,091, and heater 29, is indicated inFigure 1. The cam23 can be coupled to make on e turn foreach rotation-of the feed rollers6, or part of such rotation, depending on how far to be new is:

1. A punching device comprising a blade having one ormore teethprojecting therefrom, a movably mounted member carrying said blade fixedthereto, a heater on said member separated from said blade,,means forfeeding thin porous materialbearing a thermoplastic substance to saidblade and said heater, and means for actuating said member to cause saidblade and heater simultaneously to engage said material.

2. A punching device comprising a blade having one or more teeththereon, a rocker carrying said blade fixed thereon, a heater on saidrocker spaced from said blade, means for feeding thin porous materialbearing a thermoplastic substance to said blade and heater, a tensionspring for retracting said rocker, and a cam for actuating said rockeragainst the force of said spring, to cause said blade and heatersimultaneously to engage said material.

3. A punching device comprising a blade having one or more teeththereon, a bar having an aperture in linewith each tooth, a movablemember carrying said blade fixed thereon, an anvil adjacent said bar, aheater on the member above said anvil, means for feeding thin porousmaterial bearing a thermoplastic substance to said blade and said anvil,and means for actuating said member to cause said blade and heatersimultaneously to engage said material.

4. A punching device having a blade with one or more teeth thereon, arocker carrying said blade fixed thereon, a bar having an aperture inline with each of said teeth, a heater on the rocker adjacent saidblade, an anvil adjacent said bar in position to be engaged to theheater, means for feeding thin porous material bearing a thermoplasticsubstance to said blade and said anvil, a cam toactuate the rockertocause said blade and heater simultaneously to engage said material, anda spring to retract the rocker.

5. A punching device having a blade with one or more teeth thereon, arocker carrying said blade fixed thereon, a bar having an aperture inline with each or, said teeth, a heater on the rocker adjacent saidblade, an anvil adjacent said bar in position to be engaged by theheater,

means for feeding thin porous material bearing a.

thermoplastic substance to said blade and said anvil, a cam to actuatethe rocker to cause said blade and heater simultaneously to engage saidmaterial, and a spring to retract the rocker, said anvil having yieldingmaterial therein.

6. A punching device comprising supports, a pair of flanged reels eachfor carrying thin porous material bearing thermoplastic substancemounted on said supports, guide rollers adjacent said reels, an anviladjacent said rollers, said material being movable to said anvil oversaid rollers, a bar having apertures adjacent the guide rollers, andspaced therefrom, a movable member above said bar and said anvil, apunching blade and a heater member fixed on said movable .memberadjacent said bar and said anvil, means for supplying additional thinporous material bearing a thermoplastic substance to said bar and anvil,and means for actuating said movable member to cause said blade andheater simultaneously to engage the material on said bar and anvil.

'7. A punching device comprising supports, a pair of flanged reels eachfor carrying thin porous material bearing a thermoplastic substancemounted on said supports, guide rollers adjacent said reels, an anviladjacent said rollers, said ma- .terial being movable to said anvil oversaid rollers, a bar having apertures adjacent the guide rollers, arocker mounter on said supports above said bar and anvil, a punchingblade and a heater on said rocker above said bar and anvil respectively,means for supplying additional thin porous material bearing athermoplastic substance. to said bar and anvil, a rotatable cam foractuating said rocker to cause said blade and heater simultaneously toengage the material on said bar and anvil, and a spring for retractingsaid rocker.

8. A punching device comprising supports, a pair of flanged reels, eachfor carrying thin porous material bearing a thermoplastic substancemounted on said supports, guide rollers adjacent said reels, an anviladjacent said rollers, said material being movable to said anvil oversaid rollers, a bar having apertures adjacent the guide rollers, arocker mounted on said supports above said bar and anvil, a punchingblade and a heater on said rocker above said bar' and anvilrespectively, means for supplying additional thin porous materialbearing a thermoplastic substance to said bar and anvil, a rotatable camfor actuating said rocker to cause said blade and heater simultaneouslyto engage the material on said bar and anvil, a spring for retractingsaid rocker, and guide means between the guide rollers and said anvil.

9. A punching attachment for a packing machine having operating partscomprising a blade having one or more teeth projecting therefrom, a barhaving an aperture to receive each tooth, a movable member carrying saidblade, a heater spaced from the bar on said member, an anvil in linewith said heater, means for supplying thin fibrous material bearing athermoplastic substance to said bar and anvil, means for intermittentlyactuating said member, and means for connecting said member to beoperated by said machine.

10. A punching attachment for packing machine having moving parts,comprising a blade having one or more teeth projecting therefrom, afixed bar having an aperture to receive each of said teeth, a heater, afixed anvil in line with said heater, a rocker carrying said blade andheater spaced apart from each other, means for supplying thinfibrousmaterial bearing a thermoplastic substance to said bar and anvil,a cam to actuate the rocker, a spring to retract the rocker, and

57 {gear connections ,for :operating .said am -from asaidmachine.

11. A punching :device comprising mounting imembersramocker pivoted'atone end on said :members, .anparmmn theffree ;end:of said rocker,a;blade having= projecting .teethomtheendof said arm, a -:bar under ;therocker having apertures in iline ',with;saidq,teeth supported(transversely by .asaid. :members, ,a vvblock carrying; a heater on the.rocker adjacent said; arm lspaeedifromisaid blade, camanviLsupportedtransversely by said members :under-athe ;heater,;.means for supplyingthin fizbrousmaterial bearing althermoplastic substance-to.'saidtbar:and anvi1, :uprights on said members shaving :bearings,,ashaft zinisaid bearin s, 2 a cam ,on itheglastinamed shaft to actuate.said member 11701231188 ssaid'blade and .heater .to simultaneouslylengage saidsmaterialpandla spring between one of said anprights and the:rocker :to :retract the slatter;

.1-2. ,A punching device comprising mounting rmembers, a cracker:pivoted at one ;end :on said members anarmon the free end .ofsaidmember, aiblade having projecting :teeth 1011 the endrof said arm;aJbar'under; the rocket-havingapertures in iline with said eteet'hsupported :transversely by said :members, a block carrying .a heater .onthe rockeradjacent said iblade but. spaced -;therefrom,'anlahvil-supported transversely by said'memhers un'cler :the, heater,means for supplying thin 11- brous material bearingzazthermoplasticsubstance zto =said bar and anviLand a spring'ibetvveen one of saiduprights and the rocker to retract the latterflsaid anvilhavingyieldin-gmaterial.therein.

,-1'3.;A-,punching device .comprising mounting imembers, a rocker,pivoted -at -OI-1e' end on said members, {an Farm on the free end ,ofsaid member, a .blade having projecting teeth on ,the end of said-a1:m,. a-barunderthe rocker having-apertures in line with said teethsupported trans- :verselybysaid members, ablock. carrying aheater ion--.the rocker adjacent said-member but spaced "therefrom, .an anvilsupported transversely ,by ssaidmembers under the heater, means forsupplying :thin fibrous material bearing a thermoplastiesubstance tosaid bar andwanvil uprights on said membershavingbearingsa shaft-in saidbearings -a-cam on thellast named shaft'to actuate said member to causesaid blade and theater simu1taneously to engage said material, and aspring between .one of said uprights and the :rocker to retract thelatter, and-guide elements adjacent said -.bar andrsaid anvil.

,-References Cited in the :file of this .patent UNITED .STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 2,200,971 Sonneborn et a1. 1\/Iay-14, 1940 2,372,737Phillips Apr. 3, 1945 $2,387,812 'Sonneborn et a1. Oct. 30, 19452,395,387 Fry Feb.'26, 1946 2,423,237 "Haslacher 'July 1, 194712,457,343 Braunschweiger Dec. 28, 1948 '2,'478;121 Morner Aug. 2, 19492,597,634 'Grevich May 20, 1952

